EuroTrash Utility Belt

Black Belt Magazine Cover August 1988 - Men Who Stare at Goats?

2009-10-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

In response to this post by Immoral Tales.

If the article on "America's First Ninja" looks interesting to anyone out there, you may read it in full, along with some pretty interesting and trending links, on this collection piece at The Standing Post.

Gypsy Woman

2009-10-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Night Evelyn Came out of the Grave (Italy, 1971)

2009-09-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Night Evelyn Came out of the Grave is, in the grimy Sinema Diable release, marked as a must see for every euro-horror collector and I would agree. There is a certain EurotrashUtilityBelt approved aura about this film. It has the plot twists and requisite fiesty and busty eurogirls, but its hints towards knowledge of the Babalon Working and alchemical symbolism is something that I have yet to see noted by other commentators on this piece.

Lord Allen Cunnigham is a sick boy with a fascination for raising foxes and a deadly hankering for killing red headed hookers. His mental decline, hallucinations and obsessions drive the plot.

Allen can't seem to stay away from the flame-haired harlots and can't help himself to trick them into his lair.

Notice in their approach, a yet-to-be-illuminated All seeing Eye, the columns and the checkerboard- all part of the first degree Mason tracing board.

"You'll see dear, Polly'll make you happy..."

With money, many believe they can do what they will.

"But you must do as I ask. Here, put on these boots."

Two undercurrents of symbolism at work in this film are decidedly alchemical and christian ones. The name Evelyn is, of course, a version of Eve. Allen's (etymologically related to Adam) Cunningham's disturbed psyche springs out from his revelation of betrayal by his wife Evelyn on the grounds of his estate's Garden. The use of Genesis' symbolism doesn't end there, as a weaponized snake takes out a character in the garden. The one who pays the price is the one who was snooping for knowledge that he should not posses.

And now for some gratuitous booty...

"Evelyn" does have some fun and games too, especially with red-headed Erika Blanc and her coffin strip-tease. This scene is a memorable one in the history of ero/euro-trash cinema.

Yet even in this welcome display of the curvaceous female sexuality, we are subliminally treated to the death defying motif of the Third Degree Masonic tracing board, a rise from the coffin! See Indiana Jones and the Lost tracing Boards of Gnosis for more.

The Resolution of the Elements

Beyond the christian symbols, an elemental alchemy underscores the theme and I am definitely under the impression that Director Emilio P. Miraglia knew what he was dealing with. Miraglia's fixation on redheads leads to his employment of the 'Scarlett Woman' meme in "Evelyn's" story, recognizing the insatiable desire for the Fire which she embodies.

Note the likeness above between famed Babalon working vessel Marjorie Cameron and Gladys' (played by ice queen Marina Malfatti) hairdo when her and Allen's eyes first meet at the swinger party of his Cousin George.

Allen and Gladys have a nice roll in the hay that night and he proposes. They return to Allen's manor and encounter all sorts of maddening phenomena. As the plot grows more twisted, the All Seeing Eye is shown again, this time, illuminated.

Here we see another tracing board's symbols injected into the film, the Second Degree Mason board's use of the staircase - a descent from the staircase- and knowledge is returning to the world. (See the link to the Secret Sun's Lost Tracing Boards of Gnosis above.) This revelation signals Allen is beginning to catch on to the multitude of problems around him.

As stated previously, the overabundance of fire that the many redheads have brought to Allen's life have become too much for his sanity. It seems to me Allen himself with his dark hair and demeanor represents the element of Earth. Earth is easily overcome by fire but the surprising plot twists that occur in the last few minutes of this film culminate in an undeniable alchemical resolution, Allen is saved by the only element that can quench fire. What that element is and how it resolves Allen's imbalance is left for the viewer to find out.

There are a few other interesting moments for analysis in "The Night Evelyn Came out of the Grave", like the gypsy woman who led the seance in the beginning named Miranda (a nod to the beautiful Soledad Miranda?) and the encounter in the Garden with the Sacred Heart medallion that I will leave to more worthy researchers. (What was that thing and how come it followed Allen everywhere?) Apparently, director Emilio P. Miraglia disappeared after making 6 films and I wonder if his reluctance to do more films has anything to do with him fiddling around with people who are actually living an Allen Cunningham-like lifestyle. Maybe some fascist P2 Masons like Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi didn't want someone dishing out stories combining themes of hooker killing and Masonry together. Maybe they said "stop now or your life" and Miraglia listened. Who knows? So, with its dark setting, its symbolic manipulation and its intrigue, I recommend you check out The Night Evelyn Came Out of The Grave

Mondo Macabro - Fantasy Films of Indonesia -Indonesian Exploitation Flics of the 70s and 80s

2009-08-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

"Sex and the simple behavior of movie folks, hit the headlines. A clampdown on sleaze led to a glut of horror films, plum full of gore and gruesomeness...these [films] hit the "western audiences with a melange of weird witchcraft, mystical martial arts and geezers of gushing gore..."

Another shout out to Pieto on pointing out this documentary on one of my favorite genres.

"I am El Badrun! AHAHAHAHA!" Love that delivery. But anyways, I still get sentimental over puttering Tuk-Tuks. The main lesson here, though, is beware of the South Sea Queen or at least have fun while you're down there.

One important sociological note: Having spent some time in Southeast Asia, the belief in and practice of magic is still held in deep regard not just by villagers as this film suggests, but the ruling class. I hope to cover some of these practices in a future post.

But back to the film, this documentary is but a special on the recommended Virgins From Hell. "Our warriors will prove to you, that by working together, we can rule the whole earth. We shall rule the world, according to our own methods!"

OM Sigil in Tamil

2009-08-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

via Fire of Shiva

as TheWorldPulse said, this sigil 'evokes Ganesha'. You can make out the elephant head and ears.

OM Gum Ganapata-yay Namaha

Tempus Fugit Part One by Gray Lyda - The Alien Origins to Human Life - from Star *Reach #11 (see comments for creator's update)

2009-08-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

The ritual of cleaning out one's desk can lead to some very strange discoveries. Today's post is but one of them. "Star*Reach" Comics was published back in the late 70s out of Hayward, California. If you've ever been to Hayward, well let's just say, you are glad when you've left it. Star *Reach was a compilation comic of various sci-fi and fantasy artists/writers compiled by editor Mike Friedrich. "Tempus Fugit" stood out the most in this issue and drew parallels to the AAT (Ancient Astronaut Theory) work over at the Secret Sun and the out-there tome, on our de-evolution from the original divine state,Human Devolution: a Vedic alternative to Darwin's theory.

In the Tempus Story, we see a group of humaniods crash a classic UFO style ship into an unknown planet, one that is surrounded by many different stars. The atmosphere there begins to turn two of the group into "Grey" beings while another enters, quite naturally, into a meditative deep trance. The remaining crew, before their total transformation into helpless infantile 'aliens' discover they are actually on planet earth. The illuminated Eniram Artlu, becomes one with the changing elements of the planet, perhaps waiting to meet and guide humanity as it emerges from the cosmic soup?

It will take some authentic crate digging to find the other 3 issues of this story. But as an open call to anyone out there in the blogosphere, what happened to this comic and its Editor?

prefiguring Donnie Darko's bunny by decades?

9/15/09 UPDATE: Gray Lyda, writer and artist for "Tempus" has left some very interesting comments and links regarding where he is now, etc. Check it out in the comments section. Thanks, Gray!

Immoral Tales: Elma Şekeri-Taffy Apple

2009-08-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

via Immoral Tales: Elma Şekeri-Taffy Apple

The Feldmans : The Geek

2009-07-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

The FELDMANS have just put up their classic EP, THE GEEK, for free download.

Check it out.

and it's nothing like that 70s Sasquatch-ploitation movie The GEEK....well, at least that's what the lawyers have been saying.

yep...nothing at all like that.

and now a quick word from our sponsors...

2009-06-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

The office laughed their ass off on this one.

via SuperWoobinda

Hey, that AM radio may come in handy.

The tantrachair.

and, of course, Victoria Vetri.....

Pieto Weeps for Eurotrash Utility Belt

2009-05-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Pieto the Media Ecologist runs quite the fascinating cultural tumblr, especially if your interests are like EuroTrashUtilityBelt's. He is a media scholar at University of Pittsburg, a lover of both the Situationists and meatball sandwiches and I've been gushing over his finds for some time. Here's a few euro-related posts (he has many other likes/types of posts as well) courtesy of Pieto. Grazie!

and with a feature on BabaYaga!..you don't say...

Finally, for the academically minded ones in blogoland (and via Pieto) here is Dr. Bridgid Cherry's lecture "Beyond Suspiria: The Place of European Horror Cinema in the Fan Canon"

UPDATE: Pieto Loves it!

Sheep Squeeze - Dorkcore to the Extreme

2009-05-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

Sheep Squeeze, the world's first Dorkcore band, the retarded ancestor of groups like the FELDMANS, Spazz, Living War Room, Lost Ground, Slobber, the Shedwellaz, the Nauscopy Record Label, and many others were mostly known to insiders of the legendary West Bay Hardcore scene during its first wave in the years of 1990-1993. This post aims to change that.

The Wonder Years ...

Sheep Squeeze came out of Redwood City's burgeoning punk scene in the late 80's. The original line up was Dan Lactose (guitar and vocals), Chris Heee (vocals and sweatpants), Brenkt Sheeply (drums and babbling) and Don Juan, Ph.d on bass. After several months of intense preparation which included many rounds of the game known as "Macho Racho", the boys bumbled their way into the infamous House of Faith studio, then housed in the unforgettable record store, CFY. Eagerly watched in the studio by the HLT Productions mastermind called Leech and OXBOW vocalist Eugene Robinson, the "Everything We Touch Turns to Sheep" sessions were put down on analog tapes by the internationally respected producer Bart Thurber.

Those sessions unleashed upon the world the monumental first self-titled 7", on Milking a Dead Cow Records.

Shows with the seminal bands like Unwound, FYP, Dinkus and Amyglada were written in the Akashic Records of dorkcore, hearts were broken and new vistas reached...(and I don't think once they did their parody of the Misfits' "Hate Breeders" aka "Sheep Breeders")

Borbah - The Movie that made us all cry.

Borbah was proof that the unbridled creativity of the Squeezers could manifest into cinematic utopia. This movie was originally a high school musical, prank and assignment. Following the musical direction of the group, this film is catchy but slightly nauseating.

Please adjust volume to max. Features Christ Heee from the FELDMANS, Dan of SPAZZ, Rawb of the Living War Room, Eugene Robinson of OXBOW and the much maligned BUTTER BOY.

"Live Like Your Grandma" in Half Moon Bay.

The songs on this rare videoed performance include : "Steve" ( a tribute to Steve Sanders of 90210), "Rich Punk" ( the lyrics are for the ages) "Vespa Wood" (not a tribute, but Hee on Trumpet), and the classic "Suck My Ass" which prefigured the Nirvana quiet-loud-quiet-loud song structure by years. Because of this "coincidence", they sued Cobain's estate as that was the only way to get to the guy who stole the Sheep's intellectual property right. Legend has it, that they were paid via a debauched night on the town with Courtney Love herself and consequently picked up her VDs.

Beware, the Racuous Return?

Rampant internet rumors have been spreading in early 2009 as to the return of Sheep Squeeze. Most notably, PunkNew.Org had this press release about their potential US tour...

Dateline: REDWOOD CITY - Immortal rockers never die. In fact, they just reunite, no matter what the costs. Sheep Squeeze, the progenitors of a musical movement endearingly known as "DorkCore" have returned, this time with not just 1 drummer, but all 4. Their first release in decades , entitled "Brenkt’s Rent” has already been banned in several states and a tour with Amy Grant has stalled in the planning process.

AS the public awaits the return, EuroTrashUtilityBelt will hold you over with this download, "Lambthology", the lost 39 song semi-discography released on Brenkt's label Nauscopy.

SHEEP LIBERATION!!

ps- more sheep news available on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sheepsqueeze

Dystopia - Human = Garbage

2009-04-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Dystopia and their album "Human = Garbage" is one of those classic underground pieces where the content (the destruction of nature, drug wars, the evils of money) continues to become more true, more real, everyday. I will never forget driving up to Gillman St., getting drunk on King Cobra in the parking lot, taking pisses on the old abandoned house down the block, and then ducking when the cops came. Like an eerie silent movie scene, when the mass of figures in black crept into the side door, then you knew the ritual was to begin. Time to hear the call that was Dystopia's stoned crusty doom punk, an invitation to basking in the dionysian glory, the prophetic knowledge, of western capitalism's final collapse.

The following video is from the heyday of 1996, same time period as the flyer above.

"Hands That Mold"

"....build and build and build some more. Industry fucks nature, like some kind of whore."

Accept & Download "Human = Garbage"

BABA YAGA aka Kiss Me, Kill Me

2009-04-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Baba Yaga is a strange mix of Russian folklore, Nazi nightmares, sexy golem attacks and the eurotrash comic art of Guido Crepax. Filmed in 1973, by director/writer Corrado Farnia, the piece mixes in some nods to the revolutionary politics of the day and stars the doe-eyed Isabelle de Fumes as the unattainable photographer Valentina Russolini.

Baba Yaga is set around the lives of jet-setting Italian artists, who like bumping uglies just as much as making soap commercials with racist connotations. Farina shows a real flair for making a surreal dreamlike mix of sex, fantasy and murder. When Valentina and her suitor Arno finally get it on, their conjugal visit becomes a swirl of comic style imagerary, a homage to Crepax's work.

Swinging times, those 70s. And the choice of the track "Open Space" by Piero Umilani, helps to really push things along with a funky vibe.

A bricolage of Crepax's Valentina set to Umilani's music by CosmoCorps2000

Valentina's wanderlust leads her to a "chance" encounter with an old sapphic wench, who calls herself Baba Yaga. Valentina tries to save a lost German Shepard from being run-over, but the dog is actually a bait to trap her in a magic circle of candles on dark night at 3:30 am (note the symbolism). This is also the first point in the film that has an injection of Nazi elements.

Baba bites when she is feeling randy.

Nazi Dream Sequence # 1

the symbolic death march

Baba Yaga gets ahold of some Valentina

Farina/Crepax take some liberties with the Baba Yaga mythology, but they still point to the horrific essence that holds the original fairy tale together; a wicked old woman, who preys on younger nubile women from her power center in an old house (though not one that stands on chicken feet in the Russian forest!). The Dominatrix/Golem mixes a strange brew with the Nazi sexual symbolism and makes you wonder about the source of Baba Yaga's magic.

Baba Yaga is a solid, arty horror flic and definitely recommended.

PS - there is also a great two song demo from a doom band named Baba Yaga, available for free on the quintessential Cosmic Hearse here.

Intelligent, Visionary Horror Movies (v. 1.0) - Pizza SEO

2009-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

Thirtyseven has put together a solid list of newer horror flicks (and there are some great recommendations in the comments) on his always excellent PizzaSEO. Go over and check it out:

Intelligent, Visionary Horror Movies (v. 1.0)

FREE SEX GERMAN GIRLS FREE BEER FREE EUROTRASH GIRLS FREE FREE FREE!

2009-03-19T19:51:00.001-07:00

Ok, I admit it, this is a cheap post to drive traffic in.

But check this out:

A German brothel's surprising recession strategy

The city’s “Pussy Club” has made headlines in the local press by giving clients unlimited access to all its ladies for €70, which includes an all-you-can-eat-and-drink offer, in a bid to weather Germany’s worst economic slump since World War II …

“Seventy euros, that includes everything — ladies, drinks and food,” a member of staff contacted by phone told SPIEGEL ONLINE, confirming media reports. (via)

Tough times always ups the ante on the world's oldest profession. Therefore, I am booking a ticket now and if that ain't Eurotrash, I don't know what is.

well...maybe this is getting closer...

yah! dat iz guud.

[Indo] European Protection Mantra for 2009

2009-03-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

Things are getting rough out there and even gurus in India know it. During the 24 hour Shivaratri meditation in late February, nada yoga master Sri Swamiji gave this mantra he received from Shiva to protect devotees from economic –and- whatever else collapse in 2009. And like Mola Ram learned, you better not betray Shiva.

If you are a reader of this page, the probability is high that you don’t have an "abhyasa" of good repute. Hell, I don’t. Ergo, I can recommend putting this track on repeat in your media player, relaxing on the faux tiger skin rug with some ganja in the hookah and a delightfully deviant mistress (channeling the title header of the Lazy World of Arthur Ignatowski here), engage in some hardcore tantric sex for 24 hours and see what happens. That’s just how EurotrashUtilityBelt rolls.

Download the Two Tracks Here

As a service to you, I will transliterate/translate the mantra using my extensive knowledge of Sanskrit gained from my travels in the East as an intelligence agent.

OM Eim Hrim Shrim ShivaRama Anagha Dattaya Namaha

OM (the sound of the ajana or brow center – dissolving apparent dualities) - I hail and salute the principle of intelligence/creativity (Eim), the seeing through the illusion of this reality, attracting abundance of all kinds, and call Shiva and Rama's power along with the One without sin.

the best reason to sign up for yoga class

Notes:

You probably guessed it: the only way I could make this post relevant to the theme of the page is to basically say yes, this European, Indo European that is! and of course, pictures of hot chicks always helps.

Thanks to a reader of Eurotrash and LedgerGermane who forwarded this to the office in the spirit of helping out. I need my hookah back now, dude.

PS- It’s good karma to leave a comment.

EuroTrash Utility Belt - World's Slowest Blog?

2009-03-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

But how can I compete with the likes of LedgerGermane? That dude posts shit like there is no tomorrow. Coverups, mind control, economy, war, movies, music, politics, and UFOs...yes they are all there. And occasionally, some smut.

One thing is for sure though, things are about to get a whole lot weirder. Hang tight.

Laughly's Alchemy Notebook Project

2009-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Occult notebooks are a favorite over here, even when imagined, and Lisa Laughly's work is mesmerizing.

A stylized rune script runs through the piece.

Platonic solids and the Fifth Element.

The secret alchemical notebook of Laughly can be found here and Ninth Wave Designs original page (now defunct?) can be found here.

I am focusing mostly on the trip out factor that these images give off, but if you want to investigate the mind-blowing symbolism of western alchemy, the best place to start is Alchemy & Mysticism

SATAN'S BLOOD aka Escalofrio

2008-12-19T11:12:00.000-08:00

SATAN'S BLOOD or ESCALOFRIO is an excellent Spanish EuroTrash Horror flic from 1977. Although many copies exist, the Mondo Macabro version has some outstanding features. The documentary on 20th Century Satanism with Church of Satan priest Gavin Baddeley is worth the price of admission alone!

Opening with a Black Mass done by a look-a-like of Eliphas Levi performing ritual sex on a voluptuous woman, we are in store for a creepy ride. We meet the listless Andy and his expecting wife Annie who thirst for some adventure. Their unconscious dark yearning magnetically leads them to a run-in with some "old friends", Bruno and Mary, who invite the couple to drinks at their house...

And what could go wrong at a house that looks like that? Well, maybe a little Ouija game gone wrong, confessions of infidelity and suicide attempts and there is that exploding painting of Jesus that leads to the rest....

Invitation to a Satanic Orgy

Prepping the Vessel

...

a succubus dream...

just fyi, she's holding a dagger.

not your average round table get-together.

Mary compels you to lust after Satan's Blood

{one final note- the devil-worshiping aspect of Satanism can be viewed as a bourgeois embodiment of the Manichean heresy. Thematically, the naming of the female antagonist as Mary is a definite nod to this ancient Bizzaro world-view. }

Batman's Utility Belt and Childhood Trauma

2008-11-26T14:55:00.001-08:00

Preliminaries

Batman is characterized as an elitist (but not Reptilian) human being who to fight crime could only rely on his mind and body to be at its most functional and then blow shit up when nothing else worked. His utility belt provides a template for further consideration. This template is prophetic! Mind you, the future will be constant high-intensity urban warfare. Seeing the madness in Bombay is just the beginning.

And now our story...

Ahem...So, it was one pic of Batman's Utility Belt that kept my pubescent mind occupied for years. The culprit was the pic above and it appeared in DC Comics' "Who's Who Volume II". Hours past by thinking, scheming, about actually being like Batman. Of course, I would need to do pushups, bust out some tights for a costume, and then stuff a sock for the bulge...but the only real "in the field" supplement to his crime fighting are the tools on his belt. The Great Batman Equipment Archive lists damn near every tool the cowl-faced crime fighter carried.

I had to make one. The search began, along with friends, for the perfect utility belt. The saga passed through several stages.

and the trauma...

It became readily apparent after some dramatic instances in public, that wearing a utility belt WAS NOT going to get me laid. These instances have photographic and video evidence that will be posted on EuroTrash UtilityBelt. To verbally preview, I learned that, in general, just wearing a large, bright yellow belt with packs on it just wasn't doing much for my self esteem.

Ah..but it was the mental image of a girl in a utility belt...ready for some dirty crime fighting work, that carried me and my cohorts through a painful adolescence.

The Logic of Utility Belts
We became aware of the double-standard applied to utility belts versus fanny packs. It was a bafflement to us all. Girls seemed ok with fanny packs, but not with utility belts! You know what I'm saying.

A front worn fanny pack creates two instant yet mature observations. One, when you are reaching in there to grab something, you are playing with yourself. Two, if you wear them because you are a muscleman, you are just covering up your whithered nut sack.

Need I say more?

To be continued....

[Did you try to make a utility belt of your own? Come on, you did. What was in it? Leave a comment.]

WTF is This Page?

2008-11-21T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hello, I’m SYDNEY FAMILIAR, accent on the liar, and I dedicate this page to the pursuit of my personal obsessions: utility belts, weirdo cinema, homemade horror flics, comics, secret notebooks, strange local music and 70s European movie chicks with hairy bushes; the more homicidal the better.

There will be free downloads of essential audio and video. Also interviews with the oddballs who keep it all too real.

If you have something that falls in line with the theme, drop me an email and I'll review it.

What else do I do? I run around and grunt with an untuned bass in the FELDMANS and avoid work with a page of bizarre links called LEDGERGERMANE.